Grateful for failures

I've been thinking lately about different things I've tried that didn't work out and how grateful I am that they did not.

The first one that comes to mind is my academic career. If I'd been more successful with grants and publications as a postdoc, it would have been harder to decide to leave academia. I'm glad I left when I did.

When I was in high school I was a fairly good musician. At one point decided that if I made the all state band I would major in music. Thank God I didn't make it.

I've looked back at projects that I hoped to get, and then realized how it's a good thing that they didn't come through.

In each of these examples, I've been forced to turn away from something I was moderately good at to pursue something that's a better fit for me.

I wonder what failure I'll be grateful for next.